August 24, 2022
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 24.08.2022, 13:55
UKRAINE – Russia’s unjustified, unprovoked and illegal
aggression must stop!, Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis said in a message
marking the Independence Day of Ukraine today. I reiterate Romania’s firm
support and solidarity with Ukraine and the brave Ukrainian people who are valiantly
defending their country, the president added. A similar message was conveyed
by Romania’s Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, who said that Romania acted to
provide Kyiv authorities with assistance from the first days of what he has
called the most serious crisis facing Europe in the last decades, while
Romanian citizens have done everything in their power to help Ukraine and
Ukrainian refugees who fled the horrors of war. In turn, president Volodymyr
Zelensky promised all Ukrainian territories will be recaptured, and that Kyiv
will retaliate if any attacks target its territory today. The United States
have warned that Moscow might today launch cruise missiles targeting civilian
and government infrastructure, asking all American citizens to leave Ukraine
immediately. Also today, Washington is expected to announce the largest single
installment of US security assistance to Ukraine worth 3 billion USD. Leaders
taking part in the second summit of the Crimea Platform on Tuesday promised
support for Kyiv, calling on Moscow to withdraw its troops.
GOVERNMENT -
The Romanian Government is expected to adopt in today’s meeting amendments to
the justice laws, namely the draft law on the status of judges and prosecutors,
the draft law on judicial organization and the draft law on the Superior
Council of Magistracy. All three projects have been greenlit by the Superior
Council of Magistracy. The Ministry of Justice last week pointed out that no
provision in the three laws ignores the mandatory character of Constitutional
Court rulings. The announcement came after public accusations were circulated,
describing the bills as ‘backward-looking’ and breaching and even ‘selling’
national sovereignty. Critics have argued the laws discard the possibility of
disciplining judges who disregard Court rulings, favoring instead the
enforcement of EU law in this field. In the two years they have been discussed
in public, the laws have sparked heated debates and attracted criticism from
magistrates’ associations and civil society.
FORUM – The
greatest concern of Bucharest authorities is that young people studying abroad might
not return home, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă said
today in the opening of the 2nd edition of the Forum of Romanian
Students Worldwide. We would very much want you to return home and help our
country move forward. You must know your contribution and vision are truly
needed so that together we can develop Romania, the Prime Minister told students
taking part in the forum in Bucharest. Running until August 29, the forum will
bring together 150 students from abroad and Romania, who will address relevant
issues facing Romanian society. Under the special guidance of 11 chairs,
participants will draft a document offering solutions in the fields of
education, youth, healthcare, justice, labor and economy, European affairs,
energy and the environment. The final recommendations will be included in a
joint Resolution, which will be submitted to the relevant ministries and
authorities. The forum is organized by students and youth associations from
Romania and abroad, in cooperation with the Department for Sustainable
Development.
TENNIS -
Tennis players Irina Begu and Sorana Cîrstea have been knocked out from the round of 16 at the
WTA 250 tournament in Celveland, the USA, totalling over 250 thousand USD in
prizes. Begu, who last year played the final in cleveland, lost to Sofia Kenin
of the USA, while Sorana Cîrstea was
ousted by Magda Linette of Poland. Begu and Cîrstea are on the main draw at US
Open, alongside Simona Halep and Jaqueline Cristian. Another 4 Romanian tennis
players are competing in the US Open preliminaries. The US Open is due to start
next week. (VP)
